Impact Statement for   Stephanie Richards

Planning Unit	195 - Pike County
Area	312 - Northeast
Reporting Year	2006
Last Updated	8/6/2006 6:09:38 PM
CMAP	1808 - COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
PAC	300 - Leadership, Civic Engagement, and Economic Development
Title	Artisan Center Open for Business

Impact Statement

Through community surveys, word of mouth communications and multiple economic development plans, the Pike Arts Advisory Council recommended a major action: local artists and audiences need a place to create, share, sell, purchase and network through the arts.

Summer 2006 - Pike County Artisan Center on Main Street in Pikeville is open for business. This is the first arts venue to open in the Pike Arts Development Plan.

We have seven local artists with their own studio space in full prduction.

1. Teddy Wayne Smith - Visual Artist
2. Leigh Collett - Interior Design, Writer & Jewelry Designer
3. Charlie & Vanessa Hall - Photography, Dulcimer Making & Musicians
4. Justine Bradford - Ceramics
5. Jeff Branham - Recording Studio & Musician
6. Sally Scott - Visual Artist & Muralist

Additional local artists are showcased in the gallery space throughout the Artisan Center.

Local Attorney and Musician Larry Webster gave permission for Pike Arts to occupy and redecorate his vacant building on Main Street in Pikeville, KY. to establish the Artisan Center. A sub-committe was formed to raise money, execute the work (including building codes and handicap accessibility) and establish policy, programming, and timelines.

The Center is already turning money into the economy. Sales of the arts are consistent and growing. Gallery sales totals have grown from $5.00 in May to $163.40 in July. Individual artist sales have totaled over $2000.00. The delivered art bag lunch sale fundraiser rasied $450.00 in one day. Pikeville downtown is alive with the excitement of the arts. Artists have a location to grow spiritually and economically through their love of the arts and a new community of arts-minded people.